Could China and North Korea join Iran in attacking the US? Defense Secretary blames Biden's failed policies
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Following the United States ' military strike on Iranian nuclear facilities amid the ongoing Iran-Israel war, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blamed the Biden administration for driving Iran, North Korea, and China into closer strategic alignment.In a press briefing after the operation, Hegseth did not rule out the possibility that the three countries could coordinate a retaliatory attack on the United States, a concern within the defense establishment over an emerging anti-US axis, especially after the US attacks on Iran.'Unfortunately, with the policies of the previous administration, it drove those together, which created a challenging environment,' Hegseth said, referring to growing military cooperation between Iran and North Korea.He added that the current military operation on Iran is focused solely on Iran and its nuclear infrastructure.Without elaborating on China's potential role, Hegseth shifted focus to reiterate President Trump's long-held stance that Iran must never obtain a nuclear weapon.He said Trump views the current moment, after prolonged diplomatic deadlock, as the 'perfect opportunity' to pursue a direct military option.Hegseth's remarks clarify Washington's worry about deepening ties among adversarial states. Iran and North Korea have long been reported to share missile technology and nuclear research, while China has maintained strong diplomatic and economic relations with both.Though Beijing has not made any military commitments, analysts warn that a coordinated backlash from these countries cannot be ruled out.The Pentagon has raised alert levels at several American military installations across the Middle East and Indo-Pacific region, anticipating possible retaliation through both state and proxy forces.The US military conducted ' Operation Midnight Hammer ' on Saturday, an operation against Iran involving over 125 aircraft. This mission included a deception tactic: bombers were deployed over the Pacific as a decoy.The operation involved seven stealth B-2 bombers. The bombers dropped more than a dozen 30,000-pound Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs on two Iranian nuclear facilities, Fordow and Natanz, Caine said. Tomahawk missiles were launched at Isfahan.Iran's foreign minister accused Washington of crossing a "very big red line" and expressed skepticism about the prospects for diplomacy. President Donald Trump has warned that the US may launch further attacks if Iran does not seek peace.
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